Diseases sometimes take time before wreaking havoc in humans.
They start off as tiny, mostly harmless germs. But, those germs start to grow and get stronger, looking for some creature to latch onto and cause damage.
Usually those infected creature are animals. Infecting pigs, rodents, insects and other creatures, a virus becomes stronger and harder to eliminate.
The image of a pus-filled lesion can bring up many reactions. Most often, someone may feel revulsion, disgust or even nausea.
But, for soldiers fighting in the trenches during the Civil War, those lesions could inspire hope.
Not hope in the war efforts, but for their own safety.
The violent battles may get attention for causing death in the Civil War, but disease was the real danger. Typhoid fever, measles and tuberculosis were among the many deadly viruses that killed more than the war itself.
Among the most dangerous of these diseases was smallpox.
Malaria is a mosquito-borne disease that affects hundreds of millions of people each year. Recent estimates show over 300 million people are infected each year, and more than 1 million die from the disease. However, many travelers decide to forego the necessary malaria medications before and after traveling.
In some cases this is because travelers ‘believe’ they won’t get malaria despite the fact that a risk is indicated. Often, these individuals think because they are staying for a short time in an endemic region or are staying at a resort, they are safe. This is not correct.
The bubonic plague, also known as the “Black Death,” is one of the most dangerous diseases known to man.
It struck Europe in the mid-fourteenth century and overran the continent for over 300 years. Many of the European nations heard that Asia and the far East had substantial outbreaks of “Black Death.” Europe had established amicable trade relations with many of these Asian nations.
Historians believe that the plague was brought to Messina, Italy via trade ships.
Lactose is a sugar found in milk and milk products. Under normal circumstances, our bodies digest lactose to promote cell growth in the body. But, lactose intolerance occurs when the body stops producing designed to break down lactose.
To people dealing with lactose intolerance, a glass of milk or bowl of ice cream can cause hours of digestive discomfort. Traveling with dietary restrictions can be challenging. But, it doesn’t have to be the deciding factor in your vacation if you follow these eight simple tips.
